Page 89 of Upside Down Magic

“Itold youIcan be family friendly!”

“No, you can’t.”

“I’llgive away candy at the door.”

“It’snotHalloween!”

Wyattcrossed his arms and looked away. “Bah.”

“Areyou sure he’s a mage?”IaskedAlex.Rufusswitched his attention toAlex, as if wondering too.

“Bornand bred, lady,”Wyattanswered.

“Oh, yeah?Whattype?”

Hesmirked. “Noneof your business.”

“Thenyou’re out.”

“Yes,Wyatt, go back to your hole,”Dorseysaid. “Where’sthe car?Isit this?”Shewalked to theSUVand stood by thepassenger door. “Hurryup.Iwant to be back before the bars close.”

“Areyou sure?”Iwhispered toAlex.

“Yeah, boss.Dude’sfamily are all water mages.That’swhy they’re in the watering business, supposedly.”

IeyedWyattagain.Heglared back.It’dhave to do. “Allright.”

AfterforcingDorseyandWyattto sit in the back withRufussqueezed between them,Istarted theSUVand drove toward theTeaCauldron.

“Howdid you find him?”Iasked, jerking my head toward the back seats.Alexdidn’t seem the kind to spend hisFridayevenings atWyatt’sdump of a bar.

“Hefound me, boss.”

“Iwas running an errand,”Wyattsaid loudly.

Rufusgrowled in warning, andWyattandDorseyshrank against their respective doors.

Ianhad been right—bringingRufushad been the correct move.

“Howdo you know each other?”Iasked.

“Oh, let the boy live his depraved life,”Dorseypiped in.

“MybuddyFionabartended there for a couple of months last year,”Alexsaid, undeterred. “Shereally needed the money and couldn’t be picky,” he added gleefully.

“Heynow,”Wyattsaid. “Irun a good establishment.”

Weall snorted.

“Likeyour places are any better,” he muttered. “Acursed teashop and the motel fromHell.”

“Bedand breakfast,”Dorseysaid. “Motelsdon’t serve food.”

“Andmy shop isn’t cursed,”Isaid. “It’scurrently running through some slight problems, as most starting businesses do.It’llsmooth out.”

“Youkeep telling yourself that, lady.”

“Thankyou,Iwill.”

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